What Last Name Is Your State Known For?

We bet you could guess the five most common last names in the United States—they're not that difficult to figure out, considering you may be one of the 8.5 million people who lay claim to one of them. According to U.S. Census data from 2000, Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones are the most popular family names across the country.

According to Mental Floss, when you look at the top three most common last names in each state, those top five also tend to dominate. But, researcher Simon Davis decided to take things a step further, and uncover the most distinctive last name in every state. We're talking about the last name that's most often found in your area (apart from the five listed above).

Mental Floss / Mike Rogalski

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The list of regional names is pretty fascinating, and it reveals a ton about the cultures and immigration history in your state. For instance, Latino names are common in Southwest states and Florida, while historically Jewish names like Cohen and Schwartz reign in New York and New Jersey.

Read more about the most distinctive last names in every state and their methodology on Mental Floss.